INTERNATIONAL PIANO SERIES: JONATHAN POWELL (piano)

DEBUSSY: THE COMPLETE PRELUDES BOOKS I & II (1909–12)

Debussy’s two books of preludes are arguably his greatest pianistic achievement, following up the extraordinary innovations in sound established in ‘Estampes’ (1903), ‘L’isle joyeuse’ (1904) and ‘Images’ (1904-5) and yet creating ever more individuated forms of expression, with pieces such as ‘Minstrels’ and ‘The Girl with the Flaxen Hair’ so deftly drawn as to suggest linecuts. Drawing inspiration from composers as varied as Chopin, Grieg and Mussorgsky, Debussy’s music achieves originality through the interplay of extensive repeated passages – which are used to fix a particularly soundworld or atmosphere – and abrupt changes, the enigmatic effect of which is often explained through the Preludes’ enigmatic titles placed at the end of each piece. At other times, pieces such as ‘Feux d’artifice’ and ‘Ce qu’a vu le Vent d’Ouest’ both from Book II hint at a transcendental virtuosity and mysticism worthy of Liszt. Certainly the opportunity to hear all 24 preludes in one concert is not to be missed, given the advocacy of Jonathan Powell, one of the JdP’s featured artists.

Tickets available from: www.internationalpianoseries.com